WASHINGTON — Instead of announcing a single city to host the 2016 Republican National Convention, GOP officials may pick two finalists to gain leverage in ironing out the details with the eventual winner.

Former Utah Rep. Enid Mickelsen, who heads the GOP's convention selection committee, said Thursday that's one of the options Republicans are considering. Choosing two cities to compete against each other during final deliberations could help the Republican National Committee gain some advantage that it had lost in the past by heralding one host and then figuring out the remaining minor, but costly, issues.

"A lot of the nuts and bolts really only come out when you're sitting down negotiating the contracts," Mickelsen said.

Republicans may crown their next presidential nominee in grand Las Vegas style, nominate that person a mile high in Denver, add a little Southwestern flavor to the show in Phoenix or slather on some barbecue sauce to the party in Kansas City. It's a big decision that has impacts on how the GOP is perceived during the general election, how big of a poll bounce the party could get from the confab and how organized Republicans look in the minds of voters.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story